The Middleborough Historical Museum houses the world's largest collection of Tom Thumb memorabilia (An interesting side note: part of that collection once resided at the Zachariah Eddy House before being donated to the museum). Performers for P.T. Barnum's circus, General Tom Thumb and his diminutive wife Lavinia made their home in Middleborough.

Some older residents recall the "little couple" tossing pennies to the children in the streets whenever they would return home from the circus.